The Hypocrisy Gap
Hypocrisy is a barrier to evangelism; forgiven sins are not.
When we share the gospel we do so admitting our mistakes, doubts, sins and shortcomings. The more we take God’s call to holiness seriously, the more some of these flaws seem to matter in fact. It means we can share the grace of God with a humility that is attractive to people who are also... Continue Reading
Ruminations on Revelation: Job—The Desperate Need for Revelation
God cannot be known if he does not speak and his ways and purposes remain a mystery until he speaks.
Job’s call was for a revelation as to why the innocent, godly, sincere, and compassionate are put to the test in such sufferings. Dealing with the ways of God with men calls for a wisdom that dwells only in the mind and purpose of God. The way to understanding is “hidden from the eyes of... Continue Reading
The High Price of Coarse Jesting
Each of us would be wise to ask if we speak in certain ways to select people that denigrates others in an attempt to be humorous or clever.
Is it even possible to make progress toward obeying Paul’s command to avoid coarse jesting? Yes, but only if supernatural means are applied. Jesus shed His blood on the cross for sins such as these. One of the more unfortunate stories to emerge from our culture last week was the resignation of Jon Gruden,... Continue Reading
How the Reformation Spread
Luther’s influence spread from Wittenberg around the world in concentric circles—like when a stone is dropped into a pond.
The seeds of the Reformation that were planted in Germany sprouted into full bloom as they made their way into the English empire. To trace the pathway from Wittenberg to London, one must follow a series of circuitous routes, but the origin of that movement in Wittenberg is unmistakable, and its influence continues even to... Continue Reading
Tulip: Total Depravity
Having a right view of our sinfulness is the lynch pin to having a proper grasp of how the Lord saves his people.
Sin is the master of our lives before the Spirit changes our hearts, which means we are in bondage that we cannot will ourselves out of (Isaiah 53:6, Romans 3:9-12), partly because we cannot, but also because we love it. Yesterday, I found myself in the enviable position of explaining the difference between reformed theology... Continue Reading
Laying the Foundation…Twice
When we lay out a system of theology, where and how we begin affects everything else that we say.
Few of us will ever be in a position where we’ll need to lay out the details of an entire theological system. Most of the time, we’ll be content to rely on our confessions and the work of good theologians past and present. Where do we begin in our theology? The answer may seem... Continue Reading
The Proof is in the Patterns: How Typology Demonstrates the Trustworthiness of the Bible
The entire Bible hangs together, not only by a common set of doctrines, but also by a series of patterns and biblical types that find their ultimate telos in Christ.
One aspect of Scripture that has repeatedly born witness to its reliability, unity, and even its divine authorship is typology—namely, the way that types and shadows, patterns and persons (in their public actions and offices) are repeated and fulfilled throughout the Bible. In a few weeks, I will be teaching a class on Scripture... Continue Reading
What If Thoughts Can Be Evil?
What if Satan celebrates the fact that many Christians view their thought lives as neutral?
The word of God isn’t just a conceptual comfort; it’s a cutting blade. It cuts through evil. When we’re struggling to fight a particular thought, we need to confront that thought with the power of the truth. If thoughts can be evil, then they can also be wise and righteous; they can be Christ-exalting. ... Continue Reading
The Witness of Truth & Integrity
How can we maintain our witness in today’s culture?
How easily we can overlook our own ability to bring the Word of God to bear in our daily interactions. What if we thought more deeply about our beliefs, responsibilities, and everyday choices as we dwell together before a watching world? We are resident foreigners with an eternal citizenship in heaven (1 Peter 2:11). Remembering... Continue Reading
El Shaddai, The God Who Is More Than Enough
El Shaddai, God Almighty, our all-sufficient God, remains the same and does not change; he is with us and for us.
Spiritual warfare is both real and perpetual. The evil one is either waging battle to prevent unbelievers from coming to salvation and to receiving eternal life or he seeks to render believers disobedient, ineffectual, or undisciplined, thereby, failing to achieve God’s great goal for them, that is, “To glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.”... Continue Reading
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